"Chew up, Peter! chew up, then. Chew!" Inches, the coachman, said to his mules: Inches wished to approach the house in good style. The mules, refusing to entertain this idea, came up to the door on a slow walk. Inches could, however, let down the steps with a flourish; and this he proceeded to do by the light of the candle which Madam Carroll had brought with her to the piazza. The steps came down with a long clatter. And they had clanked in their imprisonment all the way from Tuloa. But no one in Far Edgerley would have sacrificed them for such trifles as these; they were considered to impart an especial dignity to "the equipage" (which was, indeed, rather high-hung). No other carriage west of the capital had steps of this kind. It might have been added that no other carriage east of it had them either. But Chillawassee did not know this, and went on contentedly admiring. As to the clatter made when the steps were let down--at the church door, for instance, on Sunday mornings--did it not announce that the Major and his wife had arrived, that they were about to enter? And were not people naturally glad to know this in time? They could be all ready, then, to look. Upon this occasion the tall girl who had arrived, scarcely touching the unfolded steps, sprang lightly to the ground, and clasped the waiting lady in her arms. "Oh, mamma, how glad I am to see you again! But where is my father?" "He felt very tired, Sara, and as it is late, he has gone to his room. He left his love for you. You know we expected you two hours ago." "It is but little past ten. He must be still awake. Could I not slip in for a moment, just to speak to him? I would not stay." "He has been asleep for some time. It would be better not to disturb him, wouldn't it?" "If he is asleep--of course," answered Sara Carroll. But her tone was a disappointed one. "You will see him in the morning," said the elder lady, leading the way within. "But a whole night to wait is so long!" "You do not intend, I presume, to pass this one in wakefulness?" said Madam Carroll. Sara laughed. "Scar, too, is asleep, I suppose?" "Yes. But Scar you can waken, if you like; he falls asleep again readily. He is in the first room at the head of the stairs." The girl flew off, coming back with a bright face. "Dear little fellow!" she said, "his hands and cheeks are as soft as ever. I am so glad that he has not grown into a great, rough boy. It is a year and a half since I have seen him, and he seems exactly the same." "He is the same," said Madam Carroll. "He does not grow." "I am delighted to hear it," replied Sara, answering stoutly the mother's implied regret. And then they both laughed. Judith Inches, sister of the coachman, now served a light repast for the traveller in the dining-room. But when it was over, the two ladies came back to the door-way.